Abstract

Twenty species and subspecies of garfishes are recognized from Australian and New Zealand waters: Arrhamphus s. sclerolepis, A. s. krefftii, Euleptorhamphus viridis, Hemiramphus far, He. robustus, Hyporhamphus r. regularis, Hy. r. ardelio, Hy. neglectus, Hy. australis, Hy. melanochir, Hy. ihi, Hy. quoyi, Hy. affinis, Hy. dussumieri, Rhynchorhamphus georgii, Zenarchopterus buffonis, Z. caudovittatus, Z. dispar, Z. gilli, and Z. rasori. Reporhamphus is considered a synonym of Hyporhamphus; Farhians and Ardeapiscis are considered synonyms of Hemiramphus; and Loligorhamphus a synonym of Rhynchorhamphus. Hemiramphus welsbyi is a synonym of He. robustus. The eastern river garfish (Hyporhamphus ardelio) is reduced to a subspecies of the western river garfish (Hy. regularis). The New South Wales-southern Queensland population of the snub-nosed garfish (Arrhamphus sclerolepis) is considered a subspecies (A. s. krefftii) of the northern A. s. sclerolepis. Eight species and subspecies are endemic to Australia and the single New Zealand species of garfish is endemic there. Australian populations of widespread species are compared with extra-limital populations. Geographic variation was found in Hy. quoyi and Hy. dussumieri. Tables of meristic and morphometric characters, drawings of 11 species of garfishes, synonymies, distribution maps, summaries of biology and parasites, catch statistics and a key are included